The following morning, I woke up from that weird ass dream. There was something about it though. It was totally different from my usual dreams, since the mysterious figure didn’t actually whisk me away, like erm…. A lot of them do. But instead it was just odd. As I lay there on my side, I heard my phone buzzing on the bedside table and, as I reached out to grab it and look at it, I could see a text message from Nocte. 

Would you like your hair and make up done by a professional for tonight?

Do I? Wait, why am I even questioning that? Unlocking the phone, so I could reach the chat log, I typed my reply.

That would be nice

Excellent. I’ll pick you up at midday.

Not closer to the time for tonight?

Well, remember this is your first official ‘work’ day, so it’s just work.

Oh, right.

See you in a few hours

That man has a strange sense of what he calls ‘work’. But, then again, my assistant job is just a front for being his plus one. Deciding that it's best to get out of bed, I changed into clothes for the day and headed downstairs for my normal morning routine of coffee and breakfast. As I sat there nursing a coffee, my phone buzzed again.

Forgot to say, when I pick you up? Bring the dress

With the knowledge that Nocte would be picking me up in a few hours, I just spent the morning pottering about. I did the washing up that I didn’t do yesterday, flattened at least some of the boxes and took them downstairs for recycling. I only really did a few until I gave up. Eventually, midday arrived and, as I grabbed Charlotte’s dress and bag, I left my flat. As I headed outside, I saw that Nocte was standing there, sitting on the front of his red Corvette. He gave me a smile as he saw me. I then walked over, handed him the dress and walked round to the passenger side to get in. As I sat there putting my seat belt on, I couldn’t help but notice how I did all that so naturally. Like I’ve done it many times before, and it was just a force of habit. When Nocte got in and started to drive off, I asked him where we were going, and he just said ‘to a professional’. Very helpful.

We drove through the streets of London, until he eventually parked outside what looked like a spa.

“A spa?” I questioned him.

“Yep. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind a massage, skin treatment and, well, everything else they do here.”

“Erm…. What’s the occasion?”

“Tonight?”

“Oh…. Right.”

“I mean….” Nocte pointed at me. “I hear these make people feel good, and I’m sure you wouldn’t mind feeling good?”

I blinked at him, he really had an odd choice of words here. But I accepted his invite, and he led me in. At the front desk, Nocte ordered pretty much everything for me, but I didn’t catch what he ordered for himself, since I was too overwhelmed by how much he had booked for me. Especially at such short notice! 

So, really, for the next few hours, I was pampered like a posh poodle. The massage though? God, that was like heaven! I felt so much tension being released from my body that it was just divine! It made me feel like I should get my own personal massage therapist. But, after the skin treatments? Man, my skin felt like a baby's bottom, it was so darn smooth! The last thing on the menu was the spa itself, where you can just relax after all the treatment. As I walked around with my towel on, I couldn’t help noticing that I got confused as to where to go. So, when I was at a crossroads, I guessed and went left instead of right. As I headed that way, that was when I saw it, or, really, the better word would be

HIM

I have absolutely no idea why, but he had what I thought was the world’s smallest towel wrapped around himself, but my eyes just couldn’t stop looking everywhere. The back muscles, shoulders and jeez, those biceps…. My eyes were running all over the place. He somehow hides all THAT with clothes? Is the man that I’ve come to know as Nocte a wizard? I honestly had no idea if I was salivating, but he did in fact notice me, and he turned fully around. Man, I had to admit that the front part was just as good as the back end.

“Like what you see?” I heard him say.

“Yes! Wait, I mean no! I meant no!”

Nocte chuckled to himself. “You do realise that this is the men’s area, right?” He strode over to me, and I just became frozen to the spot.

“Mens? Oh…. Right…. Yeah…. The mens….”

Apparently, my ability to speak went out the window. This was the first time I saw him practically naked, and it was like being graced by some Greek God or something. I did, however, kinda want to touch his biceps, abs or chest…. Or all three. All three would be nice…. But, in my daze, I didn’t feel him touch me by the shoulders, turn me around, and lean forward to speak near my ear.

“If you go back the way you came. At the crossroads, you just go straight ahead, then you are in the right area for the womens.”

Ok, hopefully I could remember that, because he was speaking into my ear? I was melting butter. I wanted him to say more. Dammit! No! Don’t keep thinking this, stop with the lewd thoughts! You’ve only known him for three days now? Maybe not even that, so brain? Stop.

“Ah, yes. That makes sense now.”

So, with robotic legs, I walked back the way I came. I had to stop myself from looking back at him, but I lost that battle and, just before I exited, I took a sneaky look behind me. I then saw that Nocte just smiled and waved at me. Awkwardly waving back, I carried on walking. I got back to the crossroads and walked straight ahead. Sure enough, I found myself on the actual womens side, and sat down in the relaxing water. I really wanted to kick myself, it was so stupid, why was I being so sexually attracted to that man? I’ve never actually done it with anyone and here I am, still wanting to jump his bones! Does he have that effect on everyone? But now, as I think about it, I did see a whole load of women turn their heads as he walks by. God! He was like a walking sex god machine, or perhaps he’s just a Greek god statue that has come to life and walks around freely! Urgh! I want these thoughts gone, or at least gone when I’m around HIM! No, wait! I want them gone all the time! I don't want a repeat of yesterday! 

Grumbling to myself, I finished up and headed to get dressed. As I finally returned to the lobby, I realised that we were in there for about two hours, and I was starting to get mighty hungry. Just as I thought about my hunger, Nocte reappeared again. I had to mentally tell my mind that I was hungry for food, not him!! But it was like he read my mind as he walked over and asked me if I was hungry. I said ‘yes’ but, in a weird moment, I wasn’t sure about what I was hungry for!

So Nocte took me to a restaurant that was close by. It wasn’t one of these places I would go to naturally, but honestly, the usual places I go are just probably fast food places. As I looked over the menu, I heard Nocte’s voice.

“So, did you like the session?”

I blinked several times and raised the menu up, so it hid my face! Why? Because, for some stupid reason, my mind went to sex! My mind was wondering what a session with him would be like, but I bit my lip to force my mind to go back to normal. I thought that hopefully the pain could restart it.

“Yes.” I tried to sound normal. It sounded normal to me. “I’ve not really been to a spa before.”

“Ah well, there’s a first time for everything.”

If only he took mine here and now. No! Brain. Mind. Whatever is controlling those thoughts. Stop! Like stop that right now. Who turned on the horny?! 

As I, more or less, struggled to keep my horny mind from my normal self, we managed to order food and, as we sat there eating it, Nocte spoke up.

“So, tell me about your family.”

“Well….” I started, as I twisted some spaghetti onto my fork. “I don’t really know much about yours.”

“True…. How about we play a game? If I answer a question, you answer it with your own answers.”

“That sounds fair.” I stuck the spaghetti filled fork into my mouth. Man, this was good!

“So, about your parents….”

“My parents? Well, they are back home, still living in the countryside. Mum's the busy body of the family, who keeps dad in check. Dad’s more laid back. I was more of a daddy’s girl really, my brother was more mum centric. I think the only other unique quality is that my mum is actually a quarter Spanish, with the other part being Greek. My dad? Is a born and bred Englishman. Sad thing is? I took after my dad in looks. But mum says that's not a bad thing, and I like to tell her that I’m a girl who looks like a male figure in the family. So I look manly?” I nervously laughed to myself.

“Nope, you look pretty feminine to me.”

“Ah…. Well….” I kinda blushed at that. “What about you?”

“My parents? Well, my mum? She can be overbearing at times, and she loves to invent things, but I love her nonetheless. My father? Well, some people think that he’s scary but, if you get to actually know him? He’s like a little bunny rabbit.”

“Your mother invents things?” I asked him as I started to curl some more spaghetti onto my fork.

“Yeah. Weird stuff. Half of the time, it doesn’t actually work the way she says it does, but it keeps her busy, so who am I to judge?” 

“Awww. They both sound lovely.”

“Well, same about yours….” Nocte leaned forward, with his elbows on the table. “So what did you do before coming to London?”

That was the question that I kinda didn’t want him asking, because it just sucks. But, as I plopped more of that delicious spaghetti into my mouth, and began explaining.

“Failing mostly…. I left school, tried college, but that didn’t work out…. I tried to work, but still failed at that…. So, really, I thought that I’d come here for a change of pace….” Or at least until my luck runs out, but he doesn't need to know that. “How about you?”

“Me? Hmm…. I’ve dabbled in a few things…. Nothing really stuck. Well, until now, at least…”

“Oh… The animal thing, right? Yeah, that’s all for a good cause! But have you got a girlfriend?” LORD! Why did I just ask that?!

“What an interesting question to ask.” He raised an eyebrow at me.

“Ah ha….” I nervously laughed. “You don’t have to answer that….”

“Ah no, I will answer it. You did ask. But no, I don’t. I did have a long term thing with someone but, well, that’s another matter.”

“Kinda like me, then….” I blurted out.

“You mean the David stuff?”

“Yes… David….” I shivered. “Wait, do I have to talk about him now?”

“You don’t have to, if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“No. I probably should….” I started to push around the last strands of spaghetti on my plate. “David is my ex…. Honestly, I thought he was the one, I really thought he was good with the whole waiting thing. Until… Well….” I aggressively pushed some strands of spaghetti halfway across the plate. “I ended up walking in on him IN an ex friend of mine…. It basically turned out that he was pretty good with waiting because he was seeing her for their ‘sessions’ behind my back.”

“What an ass.” Nocte announced, looking rather annoyed.

“Oh, yeah. I call him a twat and other names under the sun…. I basically stormed off, cut off contact and, a few days later, I was in London.”

“You deserve better….” He pointed out.

“Ah well, I’ll find someone else perhaps…. But what about you? You said that you were in a long term relationship with someone?”

“I did, didn't I?” Nocte sat back on his chair. “I mean half of the time I cannot explain our relationship, but she upped and vanished on me one day, and I’ve not seen her since….”

“Oh, so she could come back to you perhaps?”

“Well, it’s been a few years now.”

“Oh, right.”

So did that mean that he was a free man now? Free for the taking? But it didn’t sound like they officially broke up though? But, then again, neither did I. I just left and removed David’s number from my phone. I never actually said that I was finished with him. But the thing with Nocte? If you leave something unattended for long periods of time, it doesn’t belong to you anymore, right? I mean, I’m right, aren’t I?

“So we were both scorned?”

“You could say that, I suppose.”

I faked coughing to try and change the subject. This topic was a bit… Well, it was something I didn’t really enjoy.

“Well, do you have any friends?”

Nocte raised an eyebrow at me. “Did you not meet Charlotte?”

“I mean like others.”

“Yes, I do. I have quite a few here, and quite a few back home. What about you?”

“Honestly, the sad thing is that I think you’re my only friend now….”  

“Don’t forget Charlotte.”

“Well…. Maybe….”

“Charlotte likes you.” Nocte leaned forward, so he leant on his elbows. “I get the feeling that she wants to use you as her model.”

“Model?!”

“It’s like you are suddenly her muse for the clothing. I mean she already used me, by using the colour scheme.”

“I have to admit, I did notice that.”

“But if she does ask you? Why not go for it? You’ll never know.”

“Maybe…. By the way? I hope I didn’t sound weird that I called you my only friend.”

He gave me a little smile. “Honestly, I’m honoured that I can take that title home.”

This man sure was weird, but it was so true. I could easily talk to him about anything. It was like when you’re near him, you feel safe enough to just spill everything. I may have only known him for a few days, but he was highly unique. We continued with our little game of back and forth questions, but there was nothing major about the questions. As we sat there, drinking to pass the time, I remembered that weird dream. Was it worth telling him about it? It was worth a try at least.

“Erm…. Nocte?” He looked at me at the sound of his name. “What is your opinion on weird dreams?”

“Dreams? Not really my area, but I do know a guy who does know about dreams. Why do you ask?”

Taking a deep breath, I retold him everything I saw in my dream. 

“So, the weird shadowy guy? It totally gave me vibes that reminded me of you. Weird, huh?” I ended the explanation.

“You saw them?” Nocte looked very intrigued about it all.

“I mean, they were in my dream, so yeah….”

I watched him make a face that I’ve not seen him make before, and he leaned back and folded his arms, looking to be deep in thought.

“Do you perhaps know something?” I asked him.

“Did they say anything in this dream?”

“Not really?” I shrugged. “I mean apart from them being curious as to why I could see them.”

As I searched his face, I noticed that he showed a sign of worry, for a moment, before his face went back to normal, and he then gave me a smile. “I see. Well, there is probably nothing to worry about, and it’s just some weird dream. The mysterious guy having the same ‘vibe’ as me? You probably had me in your head before you slept, so you just happened to subconsciously think of me during your REM sleep.” He gave me a wink.

Well, he wasn’t that wrong. But I wasn’t exactly going to tell him that I basically thought about him in the bath!

“Err, probably….”

“Dreams can be weird, and this was one of those cases.” He gave me a warm smile, and turned to look at the clock that hung on the restaurant's wall. “Well, it’s best that we get going.”